Means for distributing gases.



R. LA FRANCE.

MEANS FOR DlSTR!BUTING GASES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1!. 1915.

Pawn ted Sept. 3, 1918.

2 bhEETS SHFEI l LQTFZGUZ 8. LA FRANCE.

MEANS FOR msmssunme GASES.

P APPLICATION FILED DEC. II 1916- Y m 3. fifivfi a n ZMented &, 1918 i 11% V Fi N T 21 25 m ling the distribution LA FRANCE, F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OWENS BOTTLE MACHINE GOMPANY, 0F TOLMDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MEANS FOR DISTRIBUTING GASES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD LA FRANCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of 'Ohio, have invented new and useful linprovements in Means for Distributing Gases,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for controlof gases, particularly in connection with automatic machines for making blown glass articles.

In machines of this type, it is customary to provide a series of units or mechanisms, each comprising a blank mold, into which a charge of molten glass may be drawn from a tank to produce a blank by exhausting the air from the mold, and a blowing mold in .t1on to gather a charge of glass.

provide improved means for revolution of the which the blank is blown to its final shape. These units are mounted on a frame, rotating about a vertical axis, to bring the blank molds successively into posi- A plunger or core may beemployed to produce an initial blow opening in the blank, which core may be kept at the required high tempera ture by directinga jet of burning gas at intervals thereon.-

An object of the present invention is to distributing to the several revolving units the compressed air, combustible gas and vacuum needed to give the article carry out these or other operations. More specifically, the invention relates to a stationary distributing head and its connections with the conduits leading to the several rotating units constructed and arranged to maintain a close contact between the relatively movable surfaces and automatically take up any play or looseness due to Wear, thereby preventing leakage or escape of the gases.

In practising the invention, a hollow cylindrical drum or head may be provided with its axis coinciding with the axis of gathering units, and a series of conduits may extend from said head to the several units for conveying the gases to or from said units. The distributing head may be divided, as by means of vertical partitions, into compartments communicating respectively vvrth the means for supplying compressed air, gas and vacuum. Each compartment may communicate uuth a conduit or conduits leading toward the several units; said conduits at the distributing head Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 11, 1916.

"Pat outed dept. 3, 1918. Serial No. 136,174.

merging into a hollow ring forming an aunular chamber surrounding the said head. Spacing rings surrounding the distributing head may be interposed between said first mentioned rings. and packing material arranged bctween the adjoining surfaces of the several rings. Springs may be provided to apply a pressure which is transmitted through the series of rings and the packing material, thereby holding said parts together with an elastic pressure and preventing leakage of the Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

n. the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying the principles of my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan of the distributing head and a portion of the rotary frame. Fig. 2 is a part-sectional elevation oi the same. Fig. 3 is a secti onal elevation on a larger scale.

A stationary central column l provides a support on which mounted a rotating frame comprising an upper member 5, having annular compartments 6, 7 and 8, through Which are conducted respectively rarefied air, compressed air and combustible gas. The rotating frame provides a support on Which may be mounted a number of units each. comprising a blank mold, blowing mold, operating mechanism and adjuncts. Said frame and the mechanisms thereon may be constructed and operated in the usual or any approved manner, as shown for example in my Patent No. 1,185,687, or the Patent to Bock, N 0. 870,664;

As the frame 5 rotates, the blank molds are brought successively into position over a tank of molten glass to receive a charge of glass drawn therein by suction provided through a suitable pipe or conduit leading thereto from the vacuum chamber 6. .The blank thus produced in the blank mold is transferred to a blowing mold, in which it is blown into final shape by compressed air supplied through the chamber 7. Gas transmitted through the compartment 8 may be used for heating the plunger by which the initial blow opening is formed in the blank.

A stationar 1 or nonrotating cylindrical distributing head or drum 9 is mounted at the upper end of the central supporting rod 10, the lower end of which is secured to a base 11 at the bottom of the machine. The cylinder 9 may be divided by vertical partitions 12 (Fig. 1) into separate compartments 13, 14; and 15. The compartment 13 is connected through a pipe 16, to a vacuum pump or means for exhausting the all therefrom. The compartments 14 and 15 may be connected respectively through pipes 17 and .18 to sources of compressed air and combustible The vacuum chamber 13 is provided with a port or opening 20 formed in the wall of tile cylinder 9, communicating with an annular chamber or passage 21 formed in a ring 22 surrounding the cylinder. Conduits or pipes 23 lead from the passage 21. to the vacuum chamber (3. Each of said conduits, as shown, comprises a section 2% integral with the ring section and a section 25 bolted to the frame 5, said sections and. 25 being secured together by bolts 26. Pipes .27 may lead directly from the conduits 23 to certain of the blank molds, while other oi the blank molds may eonnmniicate with said conduits through pipes 28 connected at openings 29 in the chamber 6.

The gas chamber 8 may open through a port 30 into a conduit 31 leading upward therefrom to the distributinghead and terminating in an annular member or ring 32 surrounding said head and communicatii'ig with the chamber 15. The conduit 23.1 is provided by a hollow standard 33 which also serves as a support for the ring Additional standards 33 may also be provided for supporting ring 32, which additional standards need not necessarily provide coin.- munication between the distributing head .and the chamber 8. From the chamber 8 the gas is conveyed through a pipe and distributed to the several units.

The air chamber 7 may communicate through one or more conduits 34: with the air chamber 14 in the'distributin'g head. said conduit 3% terminating in a hollow annular ring 35 surrounding the distributing head. Openings 51 are provided in the upper wall oi the chamber '7' from which pipes lead to the several units.

- surround the distributing head the ring so being interposed between the rings 22 and 32, and the ring 37 between the rings 32 and Packing material 38 is placed between the opposing surfaces of each two adjoining rings, and also at the joints between the rings and cylinder. A top plate 39 secured to the. cylinder 9, as by means of bolts d0. is extended to provide a ring or flange ll overlying the ring 2-2. A bottom ring 492 is placed beneath the ring: Packingmaterial 38 is also provided between the rings and 35 and between the ring 22 and top plate 39.

Springs 43 are arranged to bear upwardly against the lowermost rin 42, said pressure being transmitted through the entire series of rings or annular members surrounding Spacing rings to and 37 v the cylinder. These springs thus serve to maintain a continuous pressure between each two adjacent rings or elements, holding them closely together and thereby preventing leakage of the gases. either from one conduit to another, or to the outside air.

The spacing rings 36, 37 and may be held against rotation by means of bolts 4:5

extending through said rings into holding notches provided in the non-rotating cylindcr. It will thus be seen that the rotary elements or rings 22. 3'2 and 35 through which the gases are conveyed to or from the distributing head, alternate with the non-rotating elements. The springs 48 serve automatically to take up any play or looseness between the'sevcral elements, so that tight joints are maintained and leakage prevented, even when the arts become more or less worn.

The several annular elements surrounding the cylinder are movable vertically under the pressure of the springs the slight. amount that may be necessary to take up wear and t 'ansmit the pressure through the set of rings. The holding pins do have a slight vertical play in their sockets for this purpose.

The tension of the springs d3 may be regu lated by adjusting; the screws 47 or nuts $8 on which said springs are mounted. The bearing surfaces and packingmatcrial may be lubricated by means of oil or grease cups 18. i

l\'[odifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. t

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with ahollow cylindrical distributing head or drum. of partition walls therein at diflcrent positions circun'iferentially ot' the drum and dividing the drum into con'i iiartmei'its. a rotary frame, a series oi? conduits carried by said frame to rotate therewith, said conduits being individual. to said compartments and terminating in annular members or rings surrounding the drtun and means to probeing individual. to said compartments and.

terminating in annular members or rings surrounding the drum, and means to provide connnunicalion between each conduit and its compartment to permit the passage of gases between said drum and conduits, and means to provide a gas tight connection between the said rings and drum.

3. The combination with a hollow cylindrical distributing head or drum, of a rotary frame, a series said frame to rotate therewith, said conduits terminating in annular members or rings surroundin the drum, means to provide communication between said conduits and the interior of the drum to permit the passage of gases between said drum and conduits, stationary spacing rings surround ing the drum and interposed between said first mentionedrings, said rings individually movableto a limited extent lengthwise of the drum for adjustment to prevent leakage of the gases in their passage between the drum and conduits.

4. he combination with a hollow cylindrical distributing head or drum, of a rotary frame, a series of conduits carried by said frame to rotate therewith, said conduits terminating in annular members or rings surrounding the drum, means to rovide communication between said conduits and the interior of the drum to permit the passage of gases between said drum and conduits, stationary spacing rings surrounding the drum and interposed between said first mentioned rings, said rings individually movable to a limited extent lengthwise of the drum, and means to apply a yielding pressure to said rings in a direction lengthwise of the distributing head, said pressure being transmitted through the several rings to hold them in close contact and prevent leakage of the gases.

5. The combination with a cylindrical distributing head or drum, comprising a plurality of compartments arranged side by side around the axis of said drum, rotary members surrounding said drum, and each comprising an annular passage or chamber communicating with one of said compartments, packing material surrounding the drum between the said members, and springs arranged to apply a continuous pressure to said members in a direction lengthwise of the drum and thereby press said members and packing material together to prevent leakage of the gases. 4

of oo'nduits carried by a cylindrical rality of compartments, rotary members surrounding said drum, and each comprising an annular passage or chamber connnunicating with one of said compartments, spacing rings interposed between said members and held against ro'taiion. and packing material arranged to form a close joint between said rotary members and the non-rotating drum.

8. The combination with a cylindrh al distributing head or drum, comprising a plu rality of compartments, rotary members surrounding said drum, and each comprising an annular passage or chamber communicating with one of said compartments, spacing rings interposed between said members and held against rotation, and springs arranged to apply a continuous premure to said rings and annular members in a direction lengthwise of the drum, said members and rings being capable of a limited individual movement along the drum whereby said pressure is transmitted through the series of rings and said members to maintain their relatively movable surfaces in close contact.

9. The combination with a frame rotatable about a vertical axis, of a stationary cylindrical head, having vertical radially disposed partitions dividing it into compartments distributed around said axis, conduits carried by said rotary frame and extending to said cylinder, the latter having ports by which said conduits are individually connected to the respective compartments.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature this 9th day of December, 1916.

RICHARD LA FRANCE. 

